Plott Hound

Scenthound Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

Of the seven breeds of UKC registered Coonhounds, the Plott Hound and the American Leopard Hound do not trace their ancestry to the foxhound. And, of those seven breeds, we can be most certain of the Plott’s heritage and the men most responsible for its development.

The ancestors of today’s Plott Hounds were used for boar hunting in Germany many years ago. Jonathon Plott left his native Germany and came to this country in 1750. He brought a few wild boar hounds with him. These dogs had been bred for generations for their stamina and gameness. Plott and his family settled in the mountains of western North Carolina.

In those days there were no wild boars in this country. Jonathon Plott used his dogs for hunting bear.

Plott supposedly kept his strain entirely pure, making no outcrosses. In 1780, the Plott pack passed into the hands of Henry Plott.

Shortly after that time a hunter living in Georgia who had been breeding his own outstanding strain of “leopard spotted bear dogs” heard of the fame of the Plott Hounds and came to North Carolina to see for himself. He was so impressed that he borrowed one of Plott’s top stud dogs for a year to breed to his own bitches. This single cross is the only known instance of new blood being introduced into the Plott Hound since they first came to this country.

Other crosses possibly took place around the year 1900. G.P. Ferguson, who was a neighbor of the Plott family in North Carolina in those days, was a major influence on the Plott breed. He made a careful study of the Blevins hounds and the Cable hounds of that era. To what extent he used these bloodlines in his Plott breeding program is not known.

The Plott Hound was first registered with the United Kennel Club in 1946. Today’s Plotts are known for their great courage and stamina. They have a clear voice that carries well.

General Appearance

The Plott is a beautiful, strongly build yet moderate hound, with a distinct brindle colored coat. His appearance suggests the capacity for speed, stamina and endurance.

Disqualifications: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.

Characteristics

This breed is active, fast, bright, kind, confident and courageous. They are vicious fighters on game, have a super treeing instinct and take readily to water. They are alert and quick to learn. Voice is open trailing, bawl and chop.

Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness.

Head

The head is moderately wide in skull and somewhat flat on top. The muzzle is of medium length, strong but not squared off in profile.

TEETH

Scissors bite preferred, even bite acceptable.

Disqualifications: Undershot or overshot.

EYES

Prominent, set moderately wide apart in skull, brown or hazel in color. Eyelids tight, with no drooping. Expression is kind and intelligent.

Disqualification: Blind.

NOSE

Large, with well-opened nostrils. Fully pigmented, black in color.

EARS

Set moderately high and of medium length, soft to the touch, with no erectile power.

Disqualification: Deaf.

Neck

Medium length, well muscled, slightly arched at the crest.

Forequarters

Forelegs perfectly straight and well covered with smooth muscles. Pasterns short, strong and nearly upright. Shoulders are muscular and sloping to indicate speed and strength. Length of leg from elbow to ground is approximately one-half the height at the withers.

Body

Chest is deep to elbow and moderately broad, giving adequate lung space. Ribs are nicely sprung, tapering to a graceful tuck-up at the flank. Back is broad, well muscled, level. Never roached. Loins muscular and slightly arched. Overall proportion is square or slightly longer than tall, measured from point of shoulders to point of buttocks and withers to ground.

Hindquarters

Hips are smooth, round, proportionately wide and well muscled. Legs are strong and muscular above the hock, with moderate angulation at the stifle and hock joints. Short and straight from hock to heel, never cow hocked. Without rear dewclaws.

Feet

Round, cat-like foot, with deep pads and well-knuckled toes.

Tail

Rather long, moderately heavy, strong at the root and tapering to the end. Some brush. Carried free, well up and saber like.

Coat

Fine to medium coarse in texture. Short or medium in length, with a smooth and glossy appearance.

Acceptable colors are any of the above mentioned brindles, or black with brindle trim. Some white on chest and/or feet is permissible. White anywhere except on chest and/or feet is a fault.

Disqualifications: Any solid color. Albinism. Any color or combination of colors other than described.

Size and Weight

Height at withers for adult males, 22 to 27 inches. For adult females, 21 to 25 inches.
Weight for males is 50 to 75 pounds, for females 40 to 65 pounds.

Eliminating Faults: Males under 22 inches or over 27 inches. Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches. (Entries in Puppy Class are not to be eliminated for being undersize.)

Gait

Quick and agile, with head and tail carried well up.

Eliminating Faults

(A dog with an Eliminating Fault is not to be considered for placement in a bench show/conformation event, nor are they to be reported to UKC.)
Males under 22 inches or over 27 inches. Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches. (Entries in Puppy Class are not to be eliminated for being undersize.)

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a bench show/conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Any solid color.
Any color or combination of colors other than described.
Undershot or overshot.
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Deaf.
Blind.

Note

Spayed and neutered dogs may compete in all UKC Licensed Coonhound Events, including bench shows, nite hunts, water races and field trials.